And Finally... Turner Prize art bosses try to ban bad publicity... er, like this

By James Shepherd on Oct 6, 10 09:32 AM in News

Turner Prize bosses have made an exhibition of themselves by trying to ban any bad publicity.

Organisers of the controversial art competition had a two-hour stand-off with photographers before finally letting them in to snap 2010's entries on Monday.

The row blew up after members of the Press were asked to sign a form which said journalists could not publish any images or words which would "result in any adverse publicity" for the exhibition.

But they refused and boycotted the launch of this year's show at London's Tate Britain until the organisers gave way.

The modern art exhibit has a history of controversy after Damien Hirst once won the prize with a dead sheep and Tracey Emin displayed her slept-in bed. Critic Brian Sewell said of the show's organisers: "They are prickly about the Turner Prize because they are mocked about it year after year.

"Most of the art that gets into the Turner Prize is some kind of extremely contemporary rubbish - assemblies of rubbish masquerading under important names." Photographer Richard Pohle said: "We are not prepared to sign a contract that leaves us open to being sued by the Tate if our pictures are used next to an article that criticises the gallery."

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